The Richland Northeast Cavaliers finally got one in the win column with a lightning delayed, last–second 20–17 road victory against the White Knoll Timberwolves Friday, September 25.

The Timberwolves tried to start the game with a little trickery, but their onsides kick attempt was recovered by the Cavaliers and returned to the White Knoll 49–yard line. The Cavaliers drove down the field, aided by consecutive passes from Kersean Wilson to Jeremy Posey of 11 and 6 yards to get the ball inside the White Knoll 30–yard line. After a series of runs and two White Knoll offsides penalties got Richland Northeast inside the ten–yard line, Wilson finished the drive with a five–yard touchdown pass to B.J. Suber. The extra point gave the Cavaliers an early 7–0 lead with 7:47 remaining in the first quarter.

The Timberwolves put together a scoring drive of their own in the second quater. Running back Nate Goodley rushed four times for 52 yards including a 37–yard run to get into Richland Northeast territory. Aided by two Cavalier penalties, White Knoll was able to tie the score up with a Kyle Morini two– yard plunge. The extra point tied the score at 7–7.

In the third quarter, the Timberwolves took their first lead of the game. Following a turnover by Richland Northeast, White Knoll set–up with the ball near midfield. On the second play of the drive, Bryan McDaniel ran 53 yards for the score. The extra point gave the Timberwolves a 14–7 lead.

The Cavaliers responded on their next drive. On second down from his own 39–yard line, Wilson took the ball and ran deep into White Knoll territory at the 35 for a 26–yard gain. Two plays later, Wilson connected with Chris Branch for a 24–yard touchdown. The extra point tied the score at 14–14.

After a lightning delay at the start of the fourth quarter, the Cavaliers drove the ball from their own ten–yard line to the White Knoll 8–yard line on nine runs. Darius Paulk’s 27–yard rush set–up RNE with a first–and–goal, but Wilson was sacked for an 11–yard loss. Wilson’s pass to La’Derrick Cohens then fell incomplete, and Jeremy Posey was tackled for a five–yard loss on fourth down.

The Timberwolves then rushed five straight times to the Cavalier seven–yard line, but had to settle for what appeared to be a game–winning field goal and a 17–14 lead with 20 seconds remaining.

The Timberwolves kicked off to the Cavalier 40–yard line, and Michael Williams returned it 12 yards to the White Knoll 48–yard line. With 12 seconds remaining, Cavalier coaches called a reverse. Cohens took the hand–off from Wilson, and as he was going down lateralled to Darius Paulk who raced the opposite direction to the end zone as time expired giving the Cavaliers an improbable 20–17 win.

Paulk finished with 92 yards rushing. Wilson had 91 yards rushing and 104 yards passing with two touchdowns and an interception.

Daniel Taylor led the Timberwolves with 114 yards rushing. McDaniel added 78 yards and a touchdown, and Goodley finished with 69 yards. The Timberwolves did not attempt a pass.